Who is Jo Yu-ri, Squid Game's player 222? Net worth, educational qualification, and more

When Jo Yu-ri first appeared on television, it wasn’t in a drama or a film. It was on a talent survival show. She was young, maybe a bit unsure, but her voice carried something clear. Now, years later, she's appeared in one of the most globally talked-about dramas: Squid Game, and her performance has left people stunned.

Jo played Player 222, a pregnant woman named Kim Jun-hee. In the deadly world of the show, her character felt fragile at first. But as the story unfolded, she became one of the strongest presences on screen. There wasn’t anything loud or over-the-top about the role; it was quiet, emotional, and incredibly human.

A different kind of fame
Born in Busan in 2001, Jo didn’t grow up on film sets. She came from the competitive world of K-pop. In 2018, she was chosen to debut in IZ*ONE after placing third on the show Produce 48. That group became huge almost overnight. Concerts, albums, fan meets it was all a blur. But in 2021, IZ*ONE ended, and the members went their own ways.

Some idols disappear after that kind of group disbandment. Jo didn’t. She released her first solo song, Glassy, not long after. It was a bright, hopeful track, a contrast to what she’d go on to do in Squid Game.

Acting with no formal training
One thing that surprised people: Jo isn’t a trained actor. She didn’t go to a film school. She wasn’t in musicals or student plays. Her experience was mostly music videos, stage shows, and reality content. So when fans saw her in such an emotionally heavy role, they were taken aback in a good way.

In an interview with People, Jo said she cried for a long time after filming her final scene. It had taken a toll on her. That moment in the show, when her character gives up her life to save her newborn, isn’t easy to forget. Viewers around the world said it was one of the most devastating scenes in the entire series.

What she earns, and what’s next?
Jo Yu-ri hasn’t publicly shared what she earns, and there’s no official number. Still, given her years in IZ*ONE, her solo work, and her recent drama success, many believe she’s earned somewhere around $1–3 million. That includes music sales, digital streams, endorsements, and now, acting contracts.

She’s also signed to various brand deals in fashion and beauty. Her image is clean, warm, and quietly confident, making her a natural fit for that world.

This year, she’s expected to release another solo album called Episode 25. From what’s been hinted at in interviews, the tone may be deeper, maybe even a little darker. Understandably so, after a project like Squid Game.

She didn’t just show up in Squid Game; she left an impact. The kind that gets people to ask, “Who is she?” and then go looking for her past work. Jo Yu-ri might’ve started out as a singer. But now, she’s something more.